Office of the Secretary Manager
Kittitas Reclamation District Board of
Directors Meeting
December 10, 2019 Minutes
The Board of Directors of
the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on December 10,
2019 at 1:00 p.m. Attending the meeting were Division Three Director and
Chairman Fred Schnebly, Division One Director and Vice Chairman Mark Hansen,
Division Two Director Ed Wakkuri, Division Four Director Larry Bland, Division
Five Director Paul Weaver, Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, Assistant Manager
Kevin Eslinger, Field Supervisor Bob Main, Treasurer Stacy Berg and Lands Clerk
& RRA Specialist Sara Vickers. Kittitas County Conservation District (KCCD)
Project Manager Sherry Swanson, United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
Yakima Field Office Manager Chad Stuart and Legal Counsel Jim Perkins. Also, in
attendance were KRD land owners Janeice Jump, Ethan George, Mark Charlton and
Brad Haberman.
Director Wakkuri made a
motion to open the Board of Equalization. A second was made by Director Bland,
the motion passed unanimously. The audience was polled to determine if there was
anyone who was requesting equalization, which there was not. Legal Counsel
Slothower suggested that it remain open for the duration of the meeting in case
someone came in later.
The amended agenda was
approved with the addition of two executive sessions for reasons consistent with
RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i). The motion was made by Director Hansen and the second
was made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously.
USBR Yakima Field Office
Manager Chad Stuart provided an overview of operations at the Bureau. There was
a brief discussion regarding the poor rainfall that was received in the fall.
Work is continuing on the Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant with the Roza
Irrigation District, a lengthy discussion on the maintenance of the dam
occurred. Director Wakkuri inquired about the status of Lake Cle Elum. Mr.
Stuart replied that the tunnel to the Secant Pile is being finished up at this
time and the construction of the intake facility is ongoing.
The minutes for the November
12, 2019 Board Meeting were approved with a motion made by Director Bland and
the second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.
Public Comment: There was no
public comment.
Water Master Report: As
of December 10, 2019, the five reservoirs were at 21% capacity which is 5.4% of
average. Precipitation at the reservoirs from December 1st to date is
3.89 inches, or 36% of average and 10% of the months average. Precipitation for
the Water Year to date is 39.49 inches, or 57% of average. History shows that
the 2019 month of November was the 4th driest November in the last
109 years. The Snotel sites for the Upper Yakima are reporting 12% of average
and the Lower Yakima Basin sites are reporting 37% of average. The KRD canal is
operating with approximately 25 cfs to continue the support to the tributary
supplementation program.
Maintenance Report: Field
Supervisor Main reported that maintenance crews are continuing to clean the
North Branch with the excavator upstream to Colockum Rd. The backhoes are
cleaning out the sub-laterals. The last 2 head gates are being installed this
week. There was 40 yards of concrete laid using the Shot-crete machine. The rope
crew completed operations in the Yakima Syphon. There were 3 steel panels and 30
anchor bolts that were replaced. Three cubic yards of gravel was removed from
the bottom of the syphon. The crews will conduct the 2019 inventory in December.
Secretary Manager’s
Activity Report: Mr. Eberhart and Bill Clarke presented to Representative
Lekanoff, Senator Warnick and Staff in Olympia on November 20th on
the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan and current issues.
The Yakama Nation
dedication ceremony of the new Melvin R. Sampson Coho Facility that is located
on Klocke Rd was held on November 22nd.
There was an Ag Summit on
November 25th where current agricultural issues were discussed in
preparation for the next legislative session.
Mr. Eberhart met with
Yakima County Commissioner Ron Anderson on December 2nd to discuss
water issues.
KRD Consultants Walter
Larrick and Joel Hubble attended the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC)
Columbia Basin Partnership Meeting in Spokane on December 3rd & 4th.
Mr. Eberhart participated
in a presentation on the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan and attended the
Washington State Water Resources Association (WSWRA) Annual Conference in
Spokane on December 4th – 6th.
Director Wakkuri made a
motion to approve the travel for Director Hansen and Mr. Eberhart to attend the
Family Farm Alliance Annual Conference in Reno, NV February 20-21, 2020. A
second was made by Director Bland, the motion passed unanimously.
Legal Counsel Slothower
presented an interlocal agreement between the KCCD and the KRD for the operation
of the Manastash System. As a result of the discussions between the USBR, KRD
and KCCD, it was determined that the best way to deal with Manastash Operations
would be to fund them under the existing Hoover Power Contract that KRD entered
into in 1989. The agreement will allow for the KRD and KCCD staff to operate the
Manastash System. A motion was made by Director Bland to approve the agreement.
A second was made by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.
Director Hansen made a motion to approve Task Order #1. A second was made
by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.
There was a brief discussion
on the termination of Memorandum of Agreement 1425-04MA1U4250. Legal Counsel
Slothower explained that after the KRD constructed the 13.8 pipeline through the
Yakima Basin Integrated Plan the original agreement had been subplanted by a new
agreement. Director Hansen made a motion to terminate the Memorandum of
Agreement 1425-04MA1U4250. A second was made by Director Wakkuri, the motion
passed unanimously.
There have been recent
discussions about the possibility of using water at the elevation of the outlet
end of the pressure tunnel to run water up Swauk and put in surface water
storage, ground water infiltration and stream supplementation. The KRD will look
for funding opportunities to fund the study and design of the project.
The Washington State
Association of County Officials has completed their review and submitted a
report to legislature on the irrigation board election process.
A scope of work was sent to
Washington State Department of Ecology and others for funding a wheeling
framework study to look at wheeling charges for the carrying of flip flop
through the KRD canal system.
The Upper Yakima System
Storage Appraisal Phase II has been submitted to Washington State Department of
Ecology for $1.6 Million. This funding will provide site identification,
geotechnical and environmental review and identify priority sites and get them
NEPA ready. The study is expected to begin in March of 2020.
Mr. Eberhart and Legal
Counsel Slothower have a meeting set in Olympia with the Washington State
Department of Ecology regarding Water Marketing.
The Yakima Basin Phase 1
Focused Managed Aquifer Recharge Assessment is ongoing.
Tributary supplementation is
continuing on Tucker, Big and Little Creeks and is expected to be turned off
within a few days.
Director Weaver announced
his resignation as of December 31, 2019 from the KRD Board of Directors. The
Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners appointed Brad Haberman to fill
the position for the remainder of the term.
A sub-committee meeting is
expected to be set up this winter regarding the Westside Irrigation Company.
Mr. Eberhart reported on the
progress for the South Branch Project. Phase I Reach 2 Construction with an
addition to Change Order #1 where Reach 3 was added at a cost of $1,926,962.50.
Change Order #3 replaced an Undershot for $23,482.48. Change Order #2 covered
the Page Canyon Culvert and fill materials for $28,783.58.
Matheson Painting was unable
to complete the contract for the Main Branch Conservation Project. 410 gallons
of polyurea was applied out of the 2,100 gallons that is contracted. Director
Wakkuri made a motion to approve Change Order #2 to extend the contract 365
days. A second was made by Director Bland, the motion passed unanimously.
Field Supervisor Main
reported that the Lower Straight Wall has 3 panels that are being replaced. The
area will be inspected again to identify other priority areas. Belsaas and Smith
is currently working on the repairs.
Treasurer’s Report: The
Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Summary
Vouchers for the October 2019 expenses and the November 2019 payroll which
included check numbers 43726-43814, direct deposit numbers 9901778 through
9901795 in the sum of $583,285.22 were approved with a motion made by Director
Wakkuri. The second was made by Director Hansen, the motion passed unanimously.
Old Business: The remaining
land owners who were on the 2019 Foreclosure list have fulfilled their
obligations to the KRD and have been removed from the list.
Legal Counsel Slothower
reported that after a significant amount of work and the auditor suggestions
there needs to be additional modifications made to the procurement policy. The
policy has been tabled until the next board meeting when an updated copy will be
made available.
The Delegation of Authority
has also been tabled until the January Board Meeting to ensure that the edits
that were made are consistent with the changes in the procurement policy.
New Business: Treasurer Berg
presented a list for the disposal of equipment with various items that were to
be disposed of within the 2019 calendar year.
Director Hansen made a
motion to accept the 2020 Board Meeting Dates, Resolution 2019-10. A second was
made by Director Bland, the motion passed unanimously.
Other Business: The Board
adjourned to Executive Session at 1:40 p.m. for 15 minutes per RCW
42.30.110(1)(i):(i) there was a motion made by Director Hansen and a second made
by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously. Executive Session was
extended for an additional 15 minutes. The Board returned to Regular Session at
2:10 p.m. with a motion made by Director Hansen, and the second was made by
Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously. The Board adjourned for the
second Executive Session at 2:45 p.m. for 15 minutes per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i)
there was a motion made by Director Wakkuri and a second was made by Director
Bland. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to Regular Session at
3:00 p.m. with a motion made by Director Hansen and a second was made by
Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.
The audience was polled
again and no one was present to discuss the Board of Equalization. Director
Hansen made a motion to close the Board of Equalization 2019-11. A second was
made by Director Bland, the motion passed unanimously.
All business having been
concluded the meeting was adjourned.
______________________________________
Mr. Schnebly KRD Board of
Directors Chairman
______________________________________
Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary
Manager